Method and apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves



June 29, 1954 TOUTQN 2,682,341

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TQBACCO LEAVES Filed June 15, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet l Qkm BYMM? ATTORNEYS June 29, 1954 TOUTQN 2,682,341

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed June 15, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet 2 JNV ENTOR. RUSH D. TOUTON ATTORNEYS June 29, 1954 R. D.TOUTON 2,682,341

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed June 15, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5.

24 INVENTOR. 7 RUSH 0. mum/v 25 Ki ,K A

ATTORNEYS Patented June 29, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for stringing tobaccoleaves.

As is well known, when tobacco is harvested, the leaves are strung onlengths of string secured at one end to a lath, the free end of thestring is attached to the other end or the lath and the whole thenracked up in a curing-barn with the leaves hanging from the string forthe curing of the tobacco leaves.

When the tobacco. has cured, the lathe are taken down, the ends of thestring are out free from the lath, the tobacco leaves pushed togetherand the balance of the string wound about the butt portions of theleaves and secured to form hands.

In practice heretofore, the stringing of the pairs of tobacco leaves hasbeen accomplished manually by operators who string'them by passing aneedle, carried by the string at its free end, through the butts or theleaves. Such is open to a number of objections, chief among which isvariation in the number of pairs of leaves per lath, unequal spacing ofthe pairs on the string, wide variation in the number of laths strungper day by difierent operators, Whichre sults in a limited averageproduction, breakage of leaves due to inept operators, loss from fallingleaves during curing resultant from improper stringing, difficulty inobtaining requisite labor for a short seasonable occupation and risinglabor costs coupled with decreasing productivity.

As a consequence, there have heretofore been many efforts made toprovide mechanism and procedure for the mechanical stringing of tobaccoleaves which would give a constant number of pairs of leaves per lath,equal spacing of the pairs on the string and increased productivity peroperator. Such efforts in the main have been directed toward theprovision of mechanisms. including a needle and adapted to accomplishthe same type of stringing which is accomplished by manual operation.-However, the results of such and other efforts have failed, for variousreasons, in their purpose and the procedure involving manual stringingof the tobacco leaves has been continued despite its several wellrecognized dis.- advantages.

Now in accordance with this invention, a mechanism and method for thestringing of tobacco leaves is provided with at once economical andefficient operation, in that uniform spacing and number of leaves perlath is readily obtainable, the leaves are securely held by the string,with minimisation ofv falling leaves, and the productivity of theoperator is increased.

Generally speaking, the method according to this invention comprises thesecuring of leaves of tobacco at spaced intervals between a pair ofstrings, ends of which are secured together at an end of a lath, bysuccessively crossing the strings over and under one another, orcrossing one string about the other, between tobacco leaves, the buttsof which are successively presented between the strings. Moreparticularly, the strings are so arranged and manipulated that portionsthereof will extend at rest for a period between crossings to enablesuccessive tobacco leaves to be presented between them. The method inaccordance with this invention broadly g: and in. detail will be mademore apparent from the following description of a form of apparatusembodying this invention and of its mode of operation.

Generally speaking, apparatus according to this invention will compriserotating string carrying means, which, as will appear, may becontinuously or intermittently rotated, in combination with means forguiding a pair of strings extending from the carrying means so that thestrings in their extension beyond the guiding. means will, in effect, beat rest throughout a large part of each 180 cycle of rotation of thecarrying means in order to permit the insertion of the butts of tobaccoleaves between the strings between crossings thereof.

In more detail, the apparatus may include means for effecting atemporary holdin of the leaves on insertion between the strings beforethe crossing thereof.

Further, since the strings are held under tension, the butts of theleaves will, where they are engaged by the strings, be bruised or out,which will promote the grip of the strings upon them and also promotethe curing of the butt and stem portions of the leaves.

The apparatus according to this invention and its mode of operationaccording to the method of this invention will, in greater detail, bemade apparent from the following description with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly broken away, of an apparatus embodyingthis invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a. fragmentary View, partly broken away, showing details ofconstruction of the apparat'us. shown in Figure 1.

Figures 5, 6 and 'Z are fragmentary views showing details ofconstruction of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figures 8 and 9, respectively a plan and a side view, show details ofconstruction of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and, at the same time,show pairs of tobacco leaves secured by the strings.

Figure 10 shows a detail of construction of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 11 shows a detail of construction of the apparatus of Figure 1.

In the several figures variously 2 indicates a framework in the rear endof which is slidably mounted a motor 2 in unit with a speed reductiongear 3. The driving shaft 4 from the reduction gear is equipped with anadjustable pitch sheave or pulley 5, of well known construction, for thereception of a V belt '8. The V belt 6 is engaged with a pulley on ashaft 3 mounted in the framework l The shaft 1 carries on its forwardend a disc 8 on the rear face of which are mounted a pair of receptacles8, each containing a length 01' spool of string in. The receptacles 9are desirably secured to the disc 8 in opposite relation or 180 apart.

Adjacent to the receptacles 9, respectively, the disc 8 carries stringguides I I, through which the strings 18 are led to tension devicescarried by the disc and from which they pass through holes [2 formed 180apart in the disc adjacent to its periphery.

The tension devices may be of any desired type. However, as illustrated,they may each comprise a pair of discs I3 mounted on a shaft carried bya bracket l4, secured to disc 8 and. between which the strings l8 passto adjustable spring I5, which acts to press the discs together to puttension on the strings. The tension on the strings I may be releasedthrough the medium of levers 5 carried by a sleeve I! on shaft i andpivoted on brackets l4, one arm of each of which l6 engages between thesprings l5 and the discs 13. The sleeve I! is advanced to cause the arms[5 to release the tension of springs IS on the discs l3 by a cam memberl8 embracing shaft 7 adapted to work against a stop [9 on shaft 1. Thecam member is carried on the end of a rod 20 connected to a foot treadle21. The cam member i8 is normally held inoperable by a spring 22connected to the framework l and to the foot treadle 2!. When the foottreadle is depressed the cam l8 will advise sleeve H, which will causethe arms N5 of levers 16 to compress spring I5 away from the discs [3.

It will .be appreciated that disc 8 serves as a rotatable support forthe spools of string and may as well have various forms other than adisc. Thus, in place of the disc 8 a skeleton structure, as, forexample, a pair of crossed members, could be used.

Spaced forwardly of the disc 8 is a fixed plate 23, provided with atransverse slot 24 of a length substantially less than the diameter ofthe disc 8 and of a width sufficient for free passage of the strings E8.The slot 24 may be a straight slot, as shown in Figure i. However,desirably it will be oppositely recessed at its ends as shown at 25,Figure 7.

As illustrative, for example, the disc 8 may have a diameter of about 12inches and the slot may have a length of about 3 inches and a width ofabout 0.20 inch. If the opposite recesses 25 be formed at the ends ofthe slots, they may have a depth of about 0.10 inch.

Extending forwardly from the plate 23 and spaced below the slot 24 is apair of spring arms 26. The rear ends of the arms 28 are secured to theplate beyond the ends of slot 24 and, extending toward each other,terminate in upturned end portions 26' extending to points above theplane of the slot 24 and spaced apart a distance less than the combinedthickness of the butts of a pairof average tobacco leaves, of the typeto be strung, when placed face to face. Cutting elements or knives 21extend in opposite staggered relation from the upturned end portions 26'of the spring arms 26 at points spaced above the plane of the slot 24.

Extending forwardly from the plate 23 and spaced above the plane of theslot 24 is a horizontal plate 28 of a width about equal to, or somewhatgreater than, the length of slot 24. The plate 28 extends to a pointabove, or somewhat beyond, the upward ends 26 of the spring arms 26.

A shield 50 of conical shape will extend rearwardly from plate 23 todisc 8, as shown in Figures l and 2.

Driven from the shaft 1, by means of a V belt 29 and suitable pulleys,is a shaft 38, mounted in the framework I, and which in turn, throughgearing 3|, drives a transversely extending shaft 32 mounted in theframework above and forwardly of the forward end of plate 28. The shaft32 carries a sprocket 33, which serves to drive a chain 34, whichengages a sprocket 35 carried by a shaft 36 mounted in the forward endof the framework l.

The chain 34 carries a pair of hooks 31 and to the rear of each hook,considering the chain to be traveling in the direction indicated by thearrow Figure 1, the chain carries a series of spaced angle members 38.As shown, each of the series of angle members 38 comprises twentymembers. However, as will be seen, the precise number of members is ofno primary significance.

The motor 2 will be supplied with current from any suitable sourcethrough a rheostat 39 supported in the framework 1 at a point above theplates -28 and controlled by a finger 48 having a flat portion extendingforwardly of the plate 28 and in line with the space between theupturned end portions 26 of the spring arms 25.

The finger 48 will normally drop below the under surface of plate 28 inwhich position of the finger the motor will be stopped or its speed willbe relatively slowed as the rheostat is set to stop or merely slow themotor. However, the finger 48 may be raised, as will appear, to theplane of the undersurface of the plate 28, in which position the motorwill start, or its speed will be increased as the rheostat is set.

For the operation of the apparatus described above, strings I0, whichwill be of any usual or desired type for the stringing of tobaccoleaves, are led from the lengths or spools in the receptacles 9, throughguides ll, over the tension devices, the tension being released bydepression of foot treadle 2!, through holes 12 in disc 8, through slot24 in plate 23, beneath plate 28 and between the upturned end portions28 of arms 26.

The chain 34 is adjusted so that one of the hooks 31 will be positionedjust ahead of the forward end of the rheostat finger 40.

The ends of the strings H) are then pulled out and secured together tothe end of a lath A, for example, as is usual, by turning them about theend portion of the lath and passin through a slot formed in the end ofthe lath. The foot treadle 21 is released to put tension on the stringsand the strings adjacent the lath are then laid over the hook 31 withthe .lath hanging from the hook.

Tobacco leaves B, to be strung, are laid on a table C beneath theapparatus in oppositely extending piles with the butts adjacent, asshown in Figure l and the operator takes position in front of the table.

The motor '2 is started and the rheostat, for example, being set forspeed control, will operate at a relatively slow speed, since therheostat control finger 40 will be in its lower position, as shown inFigure 1. With starting of the motor 2, the chain 34 will be driven, inthe direction of the arrow Figure 1, the hook 31 carrying the lath Awill advance and the strings I 0 be drawn out through slot 24 in plate33 and between the upturned end portions 26 of spring arms 26. At thesame time the disc 3 will be rotated.

During the greater part of each 180 rotation of disc 8, the Strings H3,while having a continuous forward motion, due to the travel of hook 3'1,will lie in a substantially horizontal plane, while extending from theends of slot 24 in plate 23 between the u-pturned end portions 25 ofspring arms 26, and then will quickly cross over as the spools approachreversal of the positions. Here it will be noted that while the stringsI!) ahead of plate 23 will have a continuous relative rotary motion dueto the continuous rotation of disc 8, the slot 24 in plate 23, which isof a length less and of a width greatly less than the diameter of disc8, will act to give them an intermittent rotary motion beyond plate 23.,since during a large part of each 180 revolution of disc 8 the stringswill lie at the ends or" the slot. Where the slot is provided withrecesses 25 at its ends, the period during which the strings will lie ina plane will be increased, since the recesses will prevent the stringsfrom creeping as the point of crossover is approached. Thus, it will benoted that while the supplies from which string ii! are drawn arecontinuously relatively rotated by the disc 8, the slot 24, which theapparatus is operating with continuous rotation of disc 8, acts todampen their relative rotary motion and convert it to an intermittentrelative rotary motion in their extension beyond plate 23.

N ow, while in the rotation of disc 8 the strings it! lie in a plane,the operator, havingplaced the butts of a pair of the tobacco leaves Btogether, inserts the pair of butts, with the leaves edgewise, upwardlybetween the spring arms 26 and the strings it until the ends of thebutts contact the underside of plate 28 and then moves the buttsforwardly between the end portions 28 of the spring arms 26, whichseparate to permit the butts to pass and then spring back to normalposition. As the butts pass between the end portions 26', the knivesform slits in them.

The end portions 26 serve to constrict the strings about the buttssuiliciently to initially hold them until, in the rotation of disc '8,the strings are crossed one over the other, which causes the butts to befirmly gripped or held by the strings, having in mind that 'the stringsare under tension.

Further, with use of relatively thin string the butts of the leaveswhere engaged by the strings, will be indented or slightly cut, whichwill pro mote the grip of the strings on the butts and also will promotethe curing of the butts and stems of the leaves in the curing operation.

When the butts of a pair of leaves have been positioned so that they areinitially held by the strings ill, as described above, the ends of thebutts will serve to lift the rheostat control finger M to increase thespeed of the motor 2 to standard. The operator assembles successivepairs of leaves, using both hands and repeats the operation of engagingthe butts as the strings periodically lie in a plane for successiveperiods of time between crossings in the continued rotation of the disc.

The angle members 38, carried by chain 3d, in number equal to the numberof pairs of leaves to be strurr on lath, serve as spacers for the pairsof leaves.

The operation as described above will continue, with the motor atstandard speed, until the required number of pairs of leaves for a lathhave been strung, unless the operator fails to present the butts of apair of leaves in time, considering the forward motion of the stringsfor proper spacing with respect to the preceding pair when the stringsare crossed over. In such event, the rheostat control finger, which isof proper length with respect to the desired spacing of the pairs, willbe released by the butts of the precedin pair and will drop, slowing themotor 2, and consequently the crossing over of the strings, until raisedagain by engagement with the delayed succeeding pair, thus allowing theoperator to catch up, with avoidance of irregular spacing of the pairsand insurance that the requisite nurm ber of pairs are strung on thelath.

As the hook 37 carrying the lath A advances, it will engage the bracket45, which, in the further advance of the lath, will lift its free end sothat it will be in a position convenient to the operator when the numberof pairs of leaves to be strung on the lath has been engaged by thecrossing of the strings.

When the number of pairs for the lath, usually twenty, have been engagedby the strings, or strung, the operator, with the motor 2 in operation,grasps the free end of the lath with one hand and the strings behind thelast pair of leaves with the other, at the same time releasing thetension on the strings by depressing the foot treadle 2!. Whilemaintaining tension on the strings with respect to the end of the lathto which they are secured, in order to maintain their hold on the buttsof the pairs, the operator severs the strings, by means of anyconveniently located fixed knife, and secures the ends, with the stringsunder tension, to the free end of the lath, as by twisting about thelath and passing through a slot in its end. The lath with the strungpairs will then be removed for racking by lifting the strings from thehook 33 When the rheostat 39 has been set to stop the motor 2, ascompared with slowing it or reducing its speed when the finger M1 is inlowered position, the operation will be as described above, except thatthe motor 2 will stop between the insertion of successive pairs ofleaves, the finger it: dropping as a pair of leaves leave it in their adVance and be raised to restart the motor on the insertion by theoperator of the next pair of leaves. Thus, the operation of the machineand the rotation of disc 8 carrying lengths of string may be continuousor intermittent.

When the strung lath has been removed, the free ends of the strings Itare secured to an end of a fresh lath and hung on the succeeding hook3'! as it reaches a position just beyond the end of rheostat controlfinger 4D. The operation of stringing as described above will then berepeated.

During the operation of securing the strung pairs to the lath andremoving the strung lath and placing a fresh lath, the motor 2 will beslowed or stopped as the rheostat is set to allow the operator to removeand replace the laths by the dropping of rheostat control finger 40 andwill be brought up to standard speed again, or started, upon the initialengagement with the strings of the butts of the first pair of leaves tobe strung on the fresh lath.

When the tobacco leaves, strung as described, have been cured, they willbe readily removed from the lath by laying them flat on a table,severing the strings at the ends of the lath, which will relieve thetension on them, sliding the pairs together and tying into a bunch withthe strings. Alternatively, one or both of the strings may readily bepulled out and the pairs of leaves bunched and held in any desiredmanner.

It will be appreciated that the speeds of motor 2 under control of therheostat 39 and the speed of the drive through the adjustable pitchsheave 5 will be selected with respect to the skill of the operatorwhere the rheostat acts to slow rather than stop the motor.

In the above description of apparatus and procedure reference is made tothe stringing of tobacco leaves in pairs. However, it will be understoodthat such is intended to be illustrative and not limiting, it beingapparent that single leaves, or groups, or bunches comprising more thantwo leaves may be strung as may be desired.

From the above description, it will be noted that the tobacco leaves aresecured by crossing of the strings relative to one another, the stringsbeing preferably crossed alternately over and under the other, thusforming self-adjusting cradles. The strings thus alternately supporteach other. The under string supports the over string and as the understring rises to cross over the companion string, it rises alongside thebutt of the tobacco leaf to support it. The over string acts to tensionthe under string and equalize the load and as the over string descendsto become the under string, the companion under string is rising tobecome the over string.

It will be understood that various modification may be made in theapparatus and procedure described above without departing from thisinvention, it being understood that while various detail of apparatusand procedure described forms a part of this invention, such is notcontemplated as in any wise limiting upon the broad aspects of theinvention from either the apparatus or method standpoints.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves which comprises rotatablemeans rotatable about an axis, means for supporting a pair of strings inoppositely spaced relation relative to the axis of said rotatable means,means for holding together free ends of said pair of strings led fromsaid rotatable means, tension means carried by said rotatable means formaintaining tension on said pair of strings in their extension from saidrotatable means to said holding means, means for continuously rotatingsaid rotatable means and for simultaneously imparting a forward movementto said holding means and means positioned between said rotatable meansand said holding means forcontinuously maintaining said pair of stringsin substantially a single plane.

2. Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves which comprises a supportrotatable about an axis, means for securing a pair of lengths of stringto said support, means on said support for leading a pair of stringsfrom said support oppositely spaced with relation to the axis of saidsupport, an endless traveler spaced from and extending forwardly of saidsupport, holding means on said traveler to engage the free ends of apair of strings led from said support, tension means carried by saidsupport for maintaining tension on a pair of strings in their extensionfrom said support to said traveler and a stationary member positionedbetween said support and said holding means and provided with a slot forthe passage of a pair of strings extending from said support to saidholding means, said slot continuously maintaining said pair of stringsin substantially a single plane.

3. Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves which comprises a supportrotatable about an axis, means for securing a pair of lengths of stringto said support, means on said support for leading a pair of stringsfrom said support oppositely spaced with relation to the axis of saidsupport, an endless traveler spaced from and extending forwardly of saidsupport, holding means on said traveler to engage the free ends of apair of strings led from said support, tension means carried by saidsupport for maintaining tension on a pair of strings in their extensionfrom said support to said traveler and a stationary member positionedbetween said support and said holding means and provided with asubstantially horizontal slot for the passage of a pair of stringsextending from said support to said holding means, said horizontal slotcontinuously maintaining said pair of strings in a substantiallyhorizontal plane.

4. Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves which comprises a supportrotatable about an axis, means for securing a pair of lengths of stringto said support, means on said support for leading a pair of stringsfrom said support oppositely spaced with relation to the axis of saidsupport, an endless traveler spaced from and extending forwardly of saidsupport, holding means on said traveler to engage the free ends of apair of strings led from said support, tension means carried by saidsupport for maintaining tension on a pair of strings in their extensionfrom said support to said traveler and a stationary member positionedbetween said support and said holding means and provided with asubstantially horizontal slot for the passage of a pair of stringsextending from said support to said holding means, said slot having awidth less than the distance between the means for leading a pair ofstrings from said support and continuously maintaining said pair ofstrings in a substantially horizontal plane.

5. Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves which comprises a supportrotatable about an axis, means for securing a pair of lengths of stringto said support, means on said support for leading a pair of stringsfrom said support oppositely spaced with relation to the axis of saidsupport, an endless traveler spaced from and extending forwardly of saidsupport, holding means on said traveler to engage the free ends of apair of strings led from said support, tension means carried by saidsupport for maintaining tension on a pair of strings in their extensionfrom said support to said traveler, a stationary member positionedbetween said support and said holding means and provided with asubstantially horizontal slot for the passage of a pair of stringsextending from said support to said holding means, said horizontal slotcontinuously maintaining said pair of strings in a substantiallyhorizontal plane and a pair of resilient members extending forwardlyfrom said slotted member and having end portions spaced apart a distanceless than the length of said slot and positioned for the passagetherebetween of a pair of strings in extension from said slot to saidholding; means.

6. Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves which comprises a supportrotatable about an axis, means for securing a pair of lengths of stringto said support, means on said support for leading a pair of stringsfrom said support oppositely spaced with relation to the axis of saidsupport, an endless traveler spaced from and extending forwardly of saidsupport, holding means on said traveler to engage the free ends of apair of strings led from said support, tension means carried by saidsupport for maintaining tension on a pair of strings in their extensionfrom said support to said traveler and a stationary member positionedbetween said support and said holding means and provided with asubstantially horizontal slot for the passage of a pair of stringsextending from said support to said holding means, said horizontal slotcontinuously maintaining said pair of strings in a substantiallyhorizontal plane, a prime mover for rotating said support and drivingsaid traveler and means for controlling operation of said prime moverpositioned adjacent to said slotted member and adjacent to the path oftravel of a pair of strings in extension from the slot in said member.

'7. Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves which comprises a supportrotatable about an axis, means for securing a pair of lengths of stringto said support, means on said support for leading a pair of stringsfrom said support oppositely spaced with relation to the axis of saidsupport, an endless traveler spaced from and extending forwardly of saidsupport, holding means on said traveler to engage the free ends of apair of strings led from said support, tension means carried by saidsupport for maintaining tension on a pair of strings in their extensionfrom said support to said traveler, a stationary member positionedbetween said support and said holding means and provided with asubstantially horizontal slot for the passage of a pair of stringsextending from said support to said holding means, said horizontal slotcontinuously maintaining pair of strings in a substantially horizonalplane and a pair of resilient members extending forwardly from saidslotted member and having end portions spaced apart a distance less thanthe length or" said slot and positioned for the passage therebetween ofa pair of strings in. extension from said slot to said holding means.

8. The method of stringing tobacco leaves which comprises securing apair of strings by one end of each string to the end of a lath,continuously advancing the strings and the lath longitudinally whilemaintaining said strings un der tension, maintaining a substantiallyfixed distance between the strings in a substantially vertical planeremote from the secured ends of the strings, continuously rotating saidstrings in one direction in said vertical plane about a pointintermediate the strings as the strings are advanced through saidvertical plane, confining the lateral movement of the strings at a pointintermediate said vertical plane and the secured ends of the strings inorder to give the strings an intermittent lateral movement, presentingthe butts of tobacco leaves successively between said stringsimmediately behind their point of convergence and between the periods oftheir inter mittent lateral movement, severing the strings and whilemaintaining tension thereon securing the strings to the opposite end ofthe lath.

9. The method of stringing tobacco leaves which comprises securing apair of strings by one end or" each string to the end of a lath,continuously advancing the strings and the lath longitudinally whilemaintaining said strings under tension, maintaining a substantiallyfixed distance between the strings in a substantially vertical planeremote from the secured ends of the strings, continuously rotating saidstrings in one direction in said vertical plane about a pointintermediate the strings as the strings are advanced through saidvertical plane, confining the lateral and vertical movement of thestrings at a point intermediate said vertical plane and the secured endsof the strings, said lateral move" ment being substantially less thanthe distance between the strings in said vertical plane in order to givethe strings an intermittent lateral movement, presenting the butts oftobacco leaves suc cessively between said strings immediately behindtheir point of convergence and between the periods of their intermittentlateral movement, severing the strings and while maintaining tensionthereon securing the strings to the opposite end of the lath.

10. The method of stringing tobacco leaves which comprises securing apair of strings by one end of each string to the end of a lath,continuously advancing the strings and the lath longitudinally whilemaintaining said strings under tension, maintaining a substantiallyfixed distance between the strings in a substantially vertical planeremote from the secured ends of the strings, continuously rotating saidstrings in one direction in said vertical plane about a pointintermediate the strings as the strings are advanced through saidvertical plane, confining the lateral and vertical movement of thestrings at a point intermediate said vertical plane and the secured endsof the strings in order to give the strings an intermittent movement ina substantially horizontal plane, said lateral movement beingsubstantially less than the distance at the point of confinement betweenstraight lines joining the points where said strings are secured and thepoints where they pass through said vertical plane respectively,presenting the butts of tobacco leaves successively between said stringsimmediately behind their point of convergence and between the periods oftheir intermittent lateral movement, severing the strings and whilemaintaining tension thereon securing the strings to the opposite end ofthe lath.

11. The method of stringing tobacco leaves which comprises securing apair of strings by one end of each string to the end of a lath,continuously advancing the strings and the lath longitudinally whilemaintaining said strings under tension, maintaining a substantiallyfixed distance between the strings in a substantially vertical planeremote from the secured ends of the strings, continuously rotating saidstrings in one direction in said vertical plane about a pointintermediate the strings as the strings are advanced through saidvertical plane, confining the lateral and vertical movement of thestrings at a point intermediate said vertical plane and the :11! securedends of the strings in order to give the strings intermittent horizontalmotion, the permitted lateral movement being a distance less than thefixed distance maintained between the strings in said first verticalplane, the permitted vertical movement being slightly in excess of twicethe diameter of the strings, presenting the butts of tobacco leavessuccessively between said strings immediately behind their point ofconvergence and between the periods of their intermittent lateralmovement, severing the strings and while maintaining tension thereonsecuring the strings to the opposite ends of the lath.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTSName Date Farmer Oct. 22, 1889 Warren June 16, 1891 Wolkow Oct. 1, 1912Hendshuch Jan. 7, 1913 Millis Dec. 2, 1924 Dinkins Sept. 2'7, 1938McNeill Jan. 16, 1951 Anderson Oct. 9, 1951

